This San Anselmo home wouldn’t be what it is without near disaster at every turn and therein lies the talent and abilities of a seasoned designer. Lisa, of Millroad Studio, channeled her love for natural materials, and her ability to work on the fly into a gorgeous home that not only looks good but feels good too. Check out the beautiful transformation below in the photos by the talented Seth Smoot.

From the designer… The Longwood project is our own home and proved to be much more challenging than working for a client (and with a smaller budget as well). In my design work, I’m normally the conduit to my client’s stories. I love digging in and finding what makes them happy, inspired and comfortable. So, when it became time to tell our story, I was a little bit all over the place because I love so many things. My husband, who is a writer, kept urging me to stick to my creative process and to trust it. It was only when I began the process reserved for my clients that things began to open up. And through that, I was able to identify our must-haves.

We knew we wanted to use real, natural materials as much as possible. We knew we wanted to work with other creatives and makers and bring in their expertise to produce something special. We knew we wanted to know all about the backstories of who made everything and how. We knew that our family heirlooms will always have a prominent place in our home. We knew that we wanted the home to not just look good but to feel good. Most of all, we wanted our family and friends to feel comfortable here – to feel at ease.

The home sits on half an acre but its layout and finishes were very dated. We knew we wanted to change the layout of the first floor. We had two rooms, the dining room and living room, that rarely got used. Opening up a few key walls and adding intention to each room made them usable. Our living room transformed from being rarely used to being the most used. It’s where we listen to records, where we meditate, and where we throw pillows by the fireplace and cuddle. There’s a swivel chair right by the fireplace that becomes a pseudo-office throughout the day.

We had so many challenges and, early in the process, adopted the belief that life doesn’t happen to us, it happens for us. We learned that our electrical wiring and panel needed to be redone because there were burn marks already present. But we were thankful we could fix that and make it safe for our family. When our flooring showed up wrong three different times, it led us to find the flooring we liked even better. And when our sewage backed up and needed to be replumbed, we were happy it happened before our new flooring was in. Our renovation was completed just as the pandemic was gaining speed and we were thankful that it was finished and not during the shelter in place.

Like what you see? Take a peek at the talent behind the story… Interior Design: Millroad Studio · Photography: Seth Smoot · Stylist: Kendra Smoot · Architect: Samina Saude · Builder: Scott Smith